ORCHESTRA NEWS - May 1970 - Volume IX No. 3 - Bassist Cello Thumb Position Articles

Sep 21, 2026

ORCHESTRA NEWS May 1970, Volume IX, No. 3 presents music education and orchestral participation content focused on practical string and orchestra performance. The issue includes articles on the symphony orchestra bassist (Oscar Zimmerman), cello thumb position and presentation timing (Martha Rierson), music communication and contemporary school/community orchestras, plus reports such as Young Persons’ Chamber Orchestra at York, PA and editorial coverage. Additional features describe tuning pegs and provide contributor profiles and publication information.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

AccessFree to download

The Symphony Orchestra Bassist

Interlochen Spotlights: String Class Teaching and Chamber Music

When and How to Present the Cello Thumb Position

The Music Communications Gap

Contemporary Music for School and Community Orchestras—The CMP Library

Young Persons' Chamber Orchestra at York, Pa.

Editorial

On to Osaka and Expo 70

ORCHESTRA NEWSMAY,1970 VOLUME IX NO.3A quarterly magazine devoted to the development and encouragement of orchestras in America THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA BASSISTCELLO THUMB POSITION CONTEMPORARY MUSIC LIBRARY in this issue YORK,PA.YOUNG PERSONS CHAMBER ORCHESTRALOWELL HIGH AT EXPO'70STRING PLAYER IN JAZZ:PART IIMUSIC-MINDED ADMINISTRATORS IN MECKLENBURG Roth-CaspariPegs 1.Conserves valuable teaching time. 2.Provides extra practice time. 3.Makes tuning easier. 4.Simplifies instruction in tuning. 5.Avoids peg slippage. 6.Does not require inward pressure. 7.Turns with micrometer precision. 8.Permits students to improve tuningaccuracy by concentrating on pitch in·stead of mechanics of tuning. 9.Eliminates peg box damage,reducingmaintenance. 10.Can be adjusted according to climaticconditions. Descriptive and detailed literature free-Write for it SCHERL&ROTH,Inc.1729 SUPERIOR AVE.●CLEVELAND 14,OHIO RCHESTRA NEWS° NO.3 MAY,1970 Published in the interest of music education and participationof music in America -and specifically to further the cause ofTHE ORCHESTRA. CONTENTS THE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA BASSIST,Oscar Zimmerman..3INTERLOCHEN SPOTLIGHTS STRING CLASS TEACHINGAND CHAMBER MUSIC……… ………… …3WHEN AND HOW TO PRESENT THE CELLO THUMB POSITION,Martha Rierson……… ……………… ………4THE MUSIC COMMUNICATIONS GAP,John Ohanian……4CONTEMPORARY MUSIC FOR SCHOOL AND COMMUNITYORCHESTRAS—THE CMP LIBRARY,Browning Cramer..…5YOUNG PERSONS'CHAMBER ORCHESTRA AT YORK,PA.,Richard Shue ………………… ……………………………………6EDITORIAL,J.Frederick Müller………… …………………………6ON TO OSAKA AND EXPO 70…………………………… …………7THE STRING APPROACH IN JAZZ,David Baker……………8THERE'S MORE TO MUSIC THAN"YELLOW BIRD"IN JAMAICA,Dr.Phyllis Klotman…………………10MUSIC-MINDED ADMINISTRATORS………………………………10MINI STRINGERS,William Steffy…………………… ………11THE EAST BRUNSWICK STORY,Leona Kaufman……………11 MEET OUR DISTINGUISHED CONTRIBUTING EDITORS HARRY LANTZ,President,American String Teachers'Ass'n;Professor of Music,University of Wisconsin at Kenosha. ORVILLE DALLY,Past President,NationalSchool Orchestra Association;Bryan,Ohio FRANK W.HILL,Former President,American String Teach-er'sAssociation;Universityof Northernlowa,Cedar Falls,Iowa DR.MARVINRABIN,Professor,Schoolof Musicand Extension Division,University of Wisconsin MELVIN SCHNEIDER,Research inMusic Education;Cedar Falls,Iowa HOWARD M.VAN SICKLE,Past President,American StringTeacher's Association,Mankato State College;Mankato,Minn. EDITOR:DR.ROBERT KLOTMAN,Chairman,Music Education Dept.;Indiana University MANAGING EDITOR:Ruth Vendley Neumann PUBLISHER:Roth Violins,Division of Scherl &Roth;Cleveland,Ohio ORCHESTRA NEWS 1729 Superior Avenue·Cleveland,Ohio 44114 Printed in U.S.A. Cover and contents copyrighted by Scherl &Roth,1970 # SymphonyOrchestraBassist OSCAR ZIMMERMAN Professor of double bass,Eastman Schoolof Music.Principal bass,RcchesterPhilharmonic Orchestra. HE DOUBLE BASS PLAYER in a sym-phony orchestra has a great deal more tobe concerned with than the well knowndifficult passages in the symphonic reper-toire.Of course,these parts must be mas-tered and satisfactorily performed.Alongwith these passages,however,it is equallyimportant for a bass section to be able tomaintain a solid,secure bass line.It is thevery foundation of an orchestra.Without itthe conductor is in trouble.It follows thatknowledge of the bass part of any majorwork should be known in its entirety inorder for one to be a really fine double bassplayer in a symphony orchestra. In learning an unfamiliar work,we con-centrate on the technically difficult pas-sages while too often ignoring the rest ofthe score.This often results in having to“learn”the composition during orchestrarehearsals.While this is excusable in thecase of something so contemporary that itaffords no prior time for study,it is inex-cusable to waste time at rehearsals whileplayers learn something in the standardrepertoire which should be know

FAQs

What main topics are covered in this issue of ORCHESTRA NEWS (May 1970, Vol. IX, No. 3)?

The issue focuses on orchestra development and music education, featuring articles on the symphony orchestra bassist, cello thumb position, music communications, contemporary music libraries, and student chamber orchestras.

Why does the article on the symphony orchestra bassist emphasize knowing the bass part in its entirety?

It argues that a reliable, secure bass line is the foundation of the orchestra, and that players should know major bass parts fully rather than only isolated difficult passages.

How does the issue address tuning and peg-related practice?

It lists practical benefits of a specific thumb position/peg approach, including conserving teaching time, simplifying instruction, avoiding peg slippage, and allowing precise adjustment under different conditions.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Ava Thompson